Rye Fire & Rescue

04/21/2026

Public Service Announcement: Scheduled Blasting

The Rye Fire Department wants to advise residents and commuters of scheduled blasting activity occurring today.

Location: 4 Sagamore Rd, Rye
Time: Approximately 10:30 AM
Date: Tuesday, April 21

What to Expect:

You may hear a loud noise or feel a slight vibration during this time. There is no cause for alarm, as this is a controlled operation.

Please spread the word to your neighbors so everyone is informed!

04/10/2026

Help us celebrate Fire Chief Mark Cotreau’s retirement after 47 years of service (9 years with Rye Fire Rescue)! A true leader and dedicated servant to our community.

April 16th, 2026
11:00 am - 1:30 pm
Rye Fire Rescue
555 Washington Rd Rye NH 03870

04/03/2026

The Town of Rye, the Town of Rye Select Board, and the Rye Fire
Department have named Eric Lambert as the new Fire Chief, following the retirement of Chief Mark Cotreau.

Lambert has over 35 years of experience in the fire service. He began his career at 16 years old when, by chance, he had the opportunity to join the Allenstown Fire Department as a Junior Firefighter.

Lambert, however, was no stranger to the fire service. He has four family members who have had careers in fire departments across New Hampshire.

Following his start in Allenstown, Lambert then joined the Hudson Fire Department in 2001, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant, coordinated numerous training programs, and maintained a role on the Apparatus Committee.

Following his retirement from Hudson Fire, Lambert had the opportunity to bring his career full circle when he accepted the position as part-time Fire Chief of the Allenstown Fire Department in 2021.

After his successful time in Allenstown, Chief Lambert felt he still had more to contribute to the fire service, and applied to be the Chief in Rye.

Chief Lambert holds a number of certifications including Advanced EMT, HazMat Technician and Incident Safety Officer.

Chief Lambert will officially start on April 13, following a swearing-in ceremony held by the Select Board. He credits his wife, Laura, as a driving factor in getting him to where he is today. Laura, who is a member of the Allenstown Firefighters
Association, is also looking forward to starting their family's next chapter in Rye.

"I am so proud of Eric for continuing his career. This is a big step for him, and I am looking forward to watching him continue to grow and succeed as we take this next step as a family," said Laura Lambert.

Chief Lambert is committed to bringing a family-first feel into the town of Rye, honing in on the importance of coming together not as a department but as a community, to support one another each day.

"I am extremely excited to begin my new role as Chief of the Rye Fire Department," said Chief Lambert. "Rye offers such a unique experience. Being from a small town myself, Rye allows our department to connect with our
community and foster an environment of open communication. I stand committed to serving the great people of Rye, and I am ready to get to work."

“On behalf of the Rye Select Board, I want to thank Fire Chief Mark Cotreau for his years of service to the Town of Rye and for his many contributions to the community, said Rye Select Board Chair Rob Wright. "In our search for Rye’s next Fire Chief, the Select Board was looking for the right combination of experience,
leadership, and commitment to public safety, and we found that in Eric Lambert. He stood out as the right person to lead the department, and we are confident he will serve the town well in this role.”

“Eric Lambert’s experience, sound judgment, and strong leadership and planning skills make him well-suited to lead the department," said Town Administrator Matthew Scruton. "I also want to thank Chief Mark Cotreau for his service to the town and for all he has done for Rye over the years. Rye Fire and Rescue is made up of dedicated and talented professionals who serve this community with skill and commitment every day, and I am confident Eric will build on that strong
foundation.”

"Following my almost 9-year tenure in Rye, I am proud of all that we have accomplished together with town leadership, members of the department, and the community as a whole. Through this continued partnership, we were able to better equip our department with the tools and apparatus needed to go above
and beyond in keeping our residents safe," said Chief Cotreau. "Being the Fire Chief of Rye has been one of my most rewarding assignments as Chief. Being able to connect with residents and community members and helping to strengthen those relationships is something I take great pride in. The Town of Rye is fortunate to have such a talented group of firefighters, and I have loved working with them and watching their professional development over the years. I would like to thank the Select Board for their support. I am confident that Rye will be in great hands with Chief Lambert and wish him the best of luck in this next chapter
of his career."

Chief Cotreau's last day will be April 16. Residents and community members are invited to the station on April 16 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to commemorate Chief
Cotreau's last day.

03/07/2026

Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday, March 8. Clocks are scheduled to jump ahead approximately one hour. Properly installed, functioning, and maintained smoke and carbon monoxide alarms/detectors play an important role in emergencies.

Rye Residents are reminded to check their smoke and CO alarms ahead of daylight saving time to ensure they are functioning properly.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that in 2023, approximately three in five fire deaths occurred in homes where there were no fire alarms or alarms were not properly functioning.

03/01/2026

WE ARE HIRING: Full-Time FF/AEMT or FF/Paramedics

Rye Fire Rescue is looking for dedicated professionals to join our team!

• Competitive Pay: Up to $33.76/hr (AEMT) or $35.46/hr (Paramedic) DOQ.
• Solid Benefits: NH Group II Retirement, health insurance, and generous leave.
• Modern Fleet: New Ambulance and Engine arriving in 2026.
• Unique Ops: Be part of our Jet Ski & Ocean Rescue program.

Requirements: Pro-Board FF II, NH AEMT or Paramedic cert, and current CPAT (lateral transfers welcome).

Submit your resume, cover letter, and application to Chief Mark Cotreau at 555 Washington Rd. Rye, NH.

Deadline: March 12th, 2026, by 4:00 PM.

02/28/2026

Rye Fire Department responded to and extinguished a 4-alarm fire yesterday morning.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, at approximately 8:27 a.m., Rye Fire and Rescue responded to 50 Red Mill Lane for reports of a structure fire.

Upon arrival, crews observed heavy fire and smoke coming from the first and second floors of the home. Crews immediately began an aggressive attack on the fire.

Due to the snow totals from this winter's various storms, gaining access to the home proved difficult for firefighters. Rye Fire declared a fourth-alarm fire to bring additional resources to the scene.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the first and second floors.

There were no injuries. Crews remain on scene for the remainder of the day to monitor any hot spots.

Mutual aid was provided by Greenland, Portsmouth, Newcastle, Hampton, North Hampton, Seabrook, Portsmouth Navy Shipyard, Pease Air Force Base, Dover, Durham, New Market, Newfield, Exeter, East Kingston Air Supply, Stratham, Ellioit (ME), and York Rehab.

"Crews worked diligently to mitigate the flames and contain the fire to the points of origin. Our seamless mutual aid capability that we have throughout our district was a key factor in maintaining this fire," said Chief Cotreau. "I would like to thank our mutual aid partners for their assistance and response."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Rye Fire Department.

02/02/2026

01/13/2026

With temperatures on the rise, remember these ice saftey tips.

If someone falls through the ice, remember Preach, Reach, Throw, Go:

Preach: If possible, call 911 and let the victim know help is on the way. Reassure the victim and keep them calm.
Reach: If it is safe to reach the victim from shore, extend a sturdy object for the victim to grab.
Throw: If it is safe to do so, toss the end of a rope or a flotation device to the victim.
Go: If a situation becomes too dangerous, go find help. Untrained rescuers can often become victims.

If you fall through the ice:

Remain calm. Don’t panic. Call out for help.
Turn towards the direction you came from.
Use your legs to kick and keep yourself up.
Once you are on firm ice, roll onto thicker ice to distribute your weight.
Once out of the water, find shelter and get warm. Cold water temperatures can cause hypothermia.

10/29/2025

🔥Burning Ban Lift Lifted – Effective Immediately🔥
The Statewide Fire Ban has officially been lifted, and open burning is now permitted with a valid Rye Fire Department burn permit.

Please remember:
✅ Always have your permit on hand
✅ Never leave fires unattended
✅ Keep water or a shovel nearby
✅ Be mindful of weather conditions

Permits can be obtained online at https://nh.burnsafeamerica.com or at the station at 555 Washington Rd Rye NH.

Thank you for your cooperation during the ban — let’s continue to keep our community safe!

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10/28/2025

Daylight Saving Time Ends - Nov. 2

Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 2 this year, and the department would like to remind residents to check their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when they turn their clocks back for Daylight Saving Time.

Clocks will be moved back one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2.

Properly installed and maintained smoke and carbon monoxide alarms play a crucial role in emergency scenarios.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reported that from 201 to 2022, 59% of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms (43%) or no working smoke alarms (16%).

The risk of dying in reported home structure fires is about 60% lower in homes with working smoke alarms than in homes with no alarms or none that worked, according to the NFPA.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each year, more than 400 people in the U.S. die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fires, more than 100,000 visit the emergency room, and more than 14,000 are hospitalized.